Heating device



April 14, 1931. A. a. MODINE HEATING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Shet 1 cine/ 672737 J7"??? 111 3B. Medina I yW April 14, 1931.

A. B. MODINE .HEATING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR B. MODINE, F RAGINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MODIN E MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN HEATING DEVICE Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to heat exchange units and its object is, broadly, to provide improved heating apparatus which is convenient and eflicient in operation.

g A particular object of the invention 1s to provide improved construction for that class of heating devices which comprises radiator units adapted to be suspended from steam or hot water pipes by means through which w steam or hot water is supplied to the radiator units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange unit of the kind described which is so constructed as to permit n expansion and contraction without subjecting the device to undue stress or strain.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange unit of the kind described which is neat and attractive in apea pearance, convenient,-durab1e and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

at and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

ea Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of my heating units;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of 35 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of 1 ig. 5 isa section along the line 55 of Fig. 2 drawn to a larger scale; and

49 Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of 1 the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates one of my improved radiator units which is preferably suspended from a steam at or hot water pipe 17 by means hereinafter described, other means being provided for connecting the radiator unit with a drain or a return pipe 23;

The radiator unit 10 includes a plurality he of tubes 11 having transversely extending 1929. Serial No. 362,633.

spaced apart fins 12. The tubes 11 connect an upper header tank'13 with a lower header tank 14. The upper header tank 13 is fastened to one edge of a casing 15 containing a conduit 16 opening into the tank. The device is suspended from the pipe 17 by a nipple 19, connected at one end with a T 18 positioned in the pipe 17 and at its other end wlth a union 20. A nipple 21 connects the union 20 with the casing 15, the nipples 19 and 21, the union 20 and the conduit 16 together forming a passage for steam or liquid passing from the pipe 17 into the header tank 13.

The header tank 13 has a generall inverted U-shaped cross section. The ower portion of the tank 13 is closed by a plate 33 having a flanged connection with the side walls of the tank. The flanges of the plate 33 are suitably fastened to the side walls of the tank 13 by brazing or any other method which forms a fluid tight joint. The tank 13 is fastened to the casing 15 by a pair of end bolts 43 and a middle bolt 38. A lug 36 projects from the main body of the casing 15 into the conduit 16, the lug having a threaded aperture with which the inner end of the bolt 38 is connected. The bolt 38 extends through a thimble or brace member 37. One end of the brace member 37 projects through the outer wall of the tank 13 and the other end abuts the inner wall of the tank. A bevelled nipple 35 is wedged in position at the junction of the inner end of the thimble 37 and the conduit 16. The outer wall of the tank 13 has a flanged opening through which thimble 37 projects. A gasket washer 39 is suitably mounted on the outer end of the bolt 38 to provide a fluid tight joint. Lugs 41, projecting inwardly from the front wall of the casing 15 contain threaded apertures 42. The bolts 43 have their threaded ends on the outer face of the tank 13 and extend through the tank to threadedly engage the lugs 41. Gasket washers 45 are positioned between the head of the bolts 43 and the front face of the tank 13. A gasket 40 is positioned between the tank 13 and the casing 15. By tightening the bolts 38 and 43 the connection between the tank 13 and the casing 15 is made fluid.

tight. Rings 44, suitably positioned in the tank 13 to receive the bolts 43 permit the bolts to be tightened without distorting the walls of the tank.

The lower header tank 14 is positioned in a pan 7. A pair of side plates 9 connect the casing 15 with the pan 7, the plates being fastened to the casing and to the pan by a plurality of screw bolts 8. The tank 14 is generally semicircular in cross section and is provided with a plurality of transversely extending undulations 34 permitting contraction and expansion of the material of which the tank is constructed without increasing or diminishing the length thereof. A flanged cover 32 is suitably fastened on the tank 14. The flanged edges of the cover 14 are fastened to the body of the tank by brazing or any other suitable means providing a fluid tight connection.

The pan 7 is provided to collect water of condensation or the like or drip from the motor or other parts of the device. The pan 7 has side walls projecting upwardly beyond the lower end of the radiator unit and has a flanged opening 28 in the bottom. The.

height of the flange 28 is such as to permit considerable accumulation of liquid before overflowing occurs. An L shaped conduit member 29 is mounted underneath the tank 7. The longitudinal portion of the member 29 is fastened to the tank by any desired means such as brazing or the like, the vertical end of the member projecting upwardly through the flanged opening 28. e upper end of the verticalportion of the member 29 is turned horizontally and is threaded to provide a connection for a nipple 47. A flanged member 46 projects inwardly from the header tank 14 in alignment with the upper end of the member 29. A flexible pipe 31 connects the members 29 and 46. A second nipple 47 is threaded into the flanged opening 46, the pipe 31 being fastened at each end to the nipples 47 by means of a union 49. A lock nut 48 is suitably mounted on each of the nipples 47. The pipe connection 31 is of sufiicient flexibility to adjust. itselfto any contraction and expansion of the tank 14 and the pan 7, due to temperature changes.

A nipple 27 connects the flanged opening 30, which is positioned on the bottom of the member 29, with a union 26. The union 26 is connected with a discharge pipe 23 through a nipple 25 and an L 24. The flange opening 30 is in vertical alignment with the nipples 19 and 21 and the union 20 connecting the feed pipe with the device. The threaded connections of the various inlet and outlet members and their vertical alignment permits the device to be rotated about these members as a and to the motor by a plurality of. bolts 51. A fan 53 is operatively connected with the motor 52. A plate 54, suitably fastened on the rear of the radiator unit 10, is provided with an annular flange 55 in which the fan 53 rotates. The annular flange 55 provides means for directing the column of air, set in motion by the fan 52, outwardly'through theradiator unit. By rotating the heating unit about the vertical axis through the inlet and outlet openings, the column of heated air may be directed to any desired portion of the room. 7

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1. In apparatus of the kind described, a casing, a. radiator unit carried by the easing, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by a plurality of tubes one of said tanks being formed to provide a wall having a plurality of longitudinally spaced grooves providing ridges and depressions arranged transversely to'the length of the tank.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, a casing, a radiator unit carried by the casing, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by a plurality of tubes one of said tanks being bounded by a wall having a semi-circular cross section, one portion of said wall being arranged in adifferent plane from another portion thereof to provide ridges and depressions which are arranged transversely of the length of the tank.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, a casing having a conduit therethrough, tubular means for suspending the casing from afluid supply pipe, said tubular means connecting the conduit with the supply pipe, a radiator unit carried by the casing, said tubucurved wall portion undulated circumferen tially, a pan in which the lower tank is positioned, said pan having an overflow opening bounded by an upwardly turned flange, a rigid discharge pipe extending through said opening with its terminus in vertical alignment with said tubular means, and a flexible pipe connecting the lower tank with said discharge pipe.

4. In apparatus of the kind described, a-

. l'a'r means and conduit providing a passage casing having a conduit therethrough, tubular means for suspending the casing from a fluid supply pipe, said tubular means connecting the conduit with the supply pipe, a radiator unit carried by the casing, said tubular means and conduit providing a passage for fluid from the supply pipeto the radiator unit, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by vertical tubes, the lower tank having a generally semicircumferential cross section with its curved wall portion undulated circumferentially, a pan in which the lower tank is positioned, said pan having an overflow opening bounded by an upwardly turned flange, a rigid discharge pipe extending through said opening with its terminus in vertical alignment with said tubular means, a flexible pipe connecting the lower tank with said discharge pipe, and a motor operated fan positioned to drive a column of air through the radiator unit.

5. In apparatus of the kind described, a casing having a conduit therethrough, tubular means for suspending the casing from a fluid supply pipe, said tubular means connecting the conduit with the supply pipe, a radiator unit carried by the casing, said tubular means and conduit providing a passage for fluid from the supply pipe to the radiator unit, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by vertical tubes, the lower tank having a generally semi-circumferential cross section with its curved wall portion undulated circumferenrigid discharge pipe extending through said opening with its terminus in vertical alignment with said tubular means, a flexible pipe connecting the lower tank with said discharge pipe, and means permitting the device to be rotated about a vertical axis.

6. In apparatus of the kind described, a casing having a conduit therethrough, tubular means for suspending the casing from a fluid supply pipe, said tubular means connecting the conduit with the supply pipe, a radiator unit carried by the casing, said tubular means and conduit providing a passage for fluid from the supply pipe to the radiator unit, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by vertical tubes, the lower tank having a generally semi-circumferential cross section with its curved wall portion undulated circumferentially, a pan in which the lower tank is positioned, said pan having an overflow opening bounded by an upwardly turned flange, a rigid discharge pipe extending through said opening with its terminus in vertical alignment with said tubular means,

' a flexible pipe connecting the lower tank with said discharge pipe, a motor operated fan positioned to drive a column of air through the radiator unit, and means permitting the device to be rotated about a vertical axis.

7. In apparatus of the kind described, a radiator unit, said radiator unit comprising upper and lower header tanks connected by a plurality of tubes, one of said tanks being formed of sheet metal bent'to provide parallel side walls and said tank being formed to provide a plurality of ridges and depressions which are arranged transversely of the length of said tank and extend from adjacent an edge of one wall to adjacent an edge of the other wall.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ARTHUR lB. MODINE. 

